Architecture

For many residents today, the idea of fitting furniture into a 600 sq ft (56 sq m) condo or apartment has become a compact reality. Now a team from MIT’s architectural program have come up with the CityHome project; a versatile appliance-like solution, designed to increase usable space by two or three times. Read More

Some of the most interesting homes we've covered were conceived due to constraints in size, budget, or location. That said, there's generally more to work with than 2.5 meters (8 ft, or 99 inches) in width, as was the case with what's thought to be London's narrowest house. It recently hit the market and is expected to fetch at least £450,000 (US$757,000). Read More

The Salsa Box, by Portland, Oregon-based Shelter Wise, offers yet another take on very small-scale living. Completed earlier this year, and available to purchase from US$22,500, this particular tiny house stands out from the growing crowd with a build quality and interior layout that makes living in a 9 sq m (96 sq ft) space seem not only technically possible, but perhaps even appealing. Read More

Italian architectural firm, Nemesi & Partners, has revealed its award winning plans to clad Palazzo Italia in Milan with a smog-filtering facade as part of the Milan Expo 2015. The unique pavilion will be made from a special air-purifying cement created by Italcementi and will stretch over 9,000 square meters (96, 875 sq ft), requiring an estimated 2,000 tonnes (2,204 tons) of cement to accomplish the feat. Read More

High up in the hills around an hour or two's drive from Bogota, Colombia, is located a country villa that boasts a degree of sustainability – and even more luxury. Designed by Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia, Casa 7A also sports a novel facade made up of sliding and pivoting wooden screens that can offer both openness and privacy, as required. Read More

Native American tribes long used the wigwam as a semi-permanent shelter, and similar dome-shaped huts consisting of a simple framework covered in material serve as home for some African nomadic peoples even today. It makes sense then, that Antony Gibbon drew upon the enduring wigwam for inspiration while designing the Nook: a modern sustainable retreat that can be installed in difficult terrains, and can even float on water. Read More

A dedication ceremony took place at the World Trade Center site yesterday, marking the completion of the National September 11 Memorial Museum before it opens to the general public on May 21. President Obama was in attendance for the ceremony, which honored those killed in both the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the earlier February 26, 1993 bombing. Read More

The Taiwanese government is looking to build a new ferry terminal to accommodate an increasing passenger volume and also, foster a tourism industry for post-war Kinmen. After fielding proposals from around the globe, it was a concept from Japanese architecture firm Junya Ishigami that won out, the judges deeming its mountain-inspired design would best define their vision for Port of Kinmen in the 21st century. Read More

For its Living Cities competition, Metropolis magazine asked participants for solutions to the housing crisis facing New York. According to the magazine, the city is expected to gain a million more residents by 2040, placing a strain on housing and transport. The winners have now been announced, and include a twisting tower on the High Line and a multi-transport, entertainment and residential hub. Read More